D N N TRAVEL: Citi to raise Global Entry statement credits to $120 for 2 cards

Thursday, April 11, 2024

Citi to raise Global Entry statement credits to $120 for 2 cards

Applying for Global Entry is getting more expensive, but a major credit card issuer is now boosting its Global Entry benefits for two popular travel cards.

On Thursday, Citi announced it would increase its Global Entry statement credits to $120 every four years for the Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) and the Citi Prestige® Card.

The move comes just days after TPG was first to report that the price of applying for a five-year Global Entry membership would rise from $100 to $120 beginning in October. In announcing the fee hike, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which oversees Global Entry, cited rising costs to operate the program.

The information for the Citi Prestige has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Offsetting the higher Global Entry fee

As valuable an option as Global Entry is for travelers, the application fee isn’t a drop in the bucket. However, some travel credit cards will reimburse the fee when it comes time to apply.

But many of those cards’ benefits include specified credits of up to $100 to cover the existing Global Entry expense. (Exact terms differ from card to card.)

CBP’s fee hike planned for later this year opened the door for questions about whether card issuers might adapt their Global Entry benefits to account for the new, higher fee.

Now, Citi has done just that, ensuring Global Entry remains essentially a free perk for travelers who carry two of its high-end cards.

SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

What citi cards are raising their global entry credit?

Starting on Oct. 1, 2024, Citi will raise its Global Entry fee statement credits for two cards: the Citi Prestige Card and the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard.

Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard

Though the Citi/AAdvantage Executive card has a hefty $595 annual fee, it carries strong value for regular American flyers; it’s the only card that provides complimentary Admirals Club access.

Cardholders can earn 4 AAdvantage miles for every dollar spent on American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage mile for every dollar spent on other purchases. You’ll earn Loyalty Points on everyday purchases, too, which helps you work your way toward AAdvantage elite status.

That’s on top of other perks such as Lyft and Grubhub credits, as well as the Global Entry (or TSA PreCheck) statement credit once every four years; that credit will now rise from $100 to $120 for Global Entry applicants to cover the program’s hiked fee.

Citi Prestige Card

Meanwhile, cardholders with the Citi Prestige card (no longer available to new applicants) can receive a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry enrollment fee credit every four years. As of October, that credit will likewise cover up to $120 for applications to the latter program.

The card carries a $495 annual fee.

What is Global Entry?

Global Entry provides travelers with an expedited trip through passport control following an international flight. It’s available at 77 airports, most of which are in the U.S.; there’s also a handful of international preclearance facilities.

The program also gives travelers access to the TSA PreCheck lanes at airport security checkpoints.

Though Global Entry applicants have faced delays in recent years, from long processing times to challenges finding an interview, wait times are improving for the vast majority of travelers, CBP insisted in a recent interview with TPG.

Bottom line

Now, all eyes will be on other credit card issuers to see if they will follow in Citi’s footsteps and raise their Global Entry statement credits to account for the program’s higher fee. The higher fee takes effect in October.

Because of the changes to make Global Entry more efficient and technologically advanced — not to mention the fact that children of members or applicants can apply for free as of October — it’s a great time to consider joining. This is especially the case if the adults in your family can get their application costs reimbursed or offset through an eligible travel credit card.

D N N TRAVEL